Hydrocarbon-burner.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

L. A. BLUBAUGH. HYDROCARBON BURNER.

APPLICATION FILED 17120.19, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 892,706. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908. L. A. BLUBAUGH.

HYDROGARBON BURNER.

APPLIOATION rum) DEO.19.1'904.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

II/I/l/II/ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII i I PATENTED JULY '7, 1908.

L. A. BLUBAUGH.

HYDROCARBON BURNER.

APPLICATION IILED DBO. 19.1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. [*zaenZZr Zegb UNITED STATEFSFATENT OFFICE.

LEEGORA A. BLUBAUGH, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALlFORNIA.

HYDROCABB ON-BURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1908 Application filed. December 19, 1904. Serial No.237,358.

.State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Hydrocar- '-bon-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hydrocarbon burners particularly designed foruse in burning crude, heavy hydrocarbon oils, such, for instance, as theheavy asphaltum oils of the California fields, which contain a largepercentage of asphaltum.

The object I have in view is to provide a ositive, efficient and durablemeans wherey such heavy oils may be utilized to generate heat either ina cook stove, heating stove, bake oven, furnace or other apparatus orplace where it is desired to generate heat and to provide such means insuch form and of such construction as to avoid clogging of the burner orinterference with its perfect operation or with the perfect combustionof the liquidv fuel, and to prevent any carbonizetion, or caking orcoking of the minerals or impurities of the oil so that perfectdistribution of the heat generated from the fuel will not be prevented.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a burner for suchclass of oil whereby the same may be burned without smoke.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic feed forsuch a burner so that the apparatus may be kept in constant servicewithout the requirement of constant attendance thereon.

A further object of my invention is to provide for the safety of theapparatus by the provision of suitable means for carrying away anyexcess oil fed into the burner by any accidental cause whatsoever.

As shown in the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinalsectional view 0 a fire-pot of a stove and of a hydrocarbon burningapparatus embodying my invention in'place t erein. Fig. 2 1s a sectionalplan view on the line X -Qi of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view of a fire-pot of a stove and-a somewhat modified form ofmy invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on the line XX of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of myinvention. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line X '-X of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, 2 represents the walls of a fire-pot and 3 the flangeupon which the fire grates ordinarily rest and on which the firepotproper ordinarily is supported.

4 represents the body portion of my generator and this body portion maybe, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 3, cylindrical in form,

or, it may be as shown in Fig. 5, oblong or rectilinear. The bottom ofthe body 4 is preferably concave and adapted to receive a imng ofrefractory material 5.

As shown in Fig. 1 an oil pipe 6 is connected with and communicatesthrough the bottom of the body 4 and terminates prefcr ably just withinthe body, a duct or way 7 being formed in the refractory material whichis preferably carried up at its center in the form of a boss, so thatthe we 7 terminates just below the first series of air inlet erforations8 and above the main u )per Sill ace of the refractory material 5, whichsurface, as shown, is also preferably inclined downward toward thecenter. The body 4 is open at its top so that an open generating chamber9 is formed, and in this chamber a series of holes lead through the wallof the body 4. Preferably, the centers of the first row of these holesor air inlets 8 are one-half inch above the bottom of the ta credchamber, and the concavity formed a ove the refractory material and theholes must be sufficiently close together to revent any carbonization onthe inside wall of the body 4. By making the holes or air inlets 8 closetogether only a small heated surface is left between the air inlets andthe ingress of air through the inlets 8 is sufiicient to effectuallyprevent carbonization on the inner surface of the body 4. These airinlets 8 must open directly into the chamber 9 and not at an angle, inorder to effectuate a thorough mingling of the oil with the air in thechamber 9. By bringing the air inlets straight into the chamber, agreater commotion is effected in the combustion chamber and this insuresa more thorough mingling of the vaporizing oil and air.

In order to sup ort the body 4 in position on the fire-pot i prefer toemploy angle plates 10 having flanges '11, through which rivets or othermeans, pass through the wall of the body 4 and hold the body 4 and theangle plates 10 in fixed position. The horizontal flanges of the angleplates 10 have their outer ends adapted to rest on the flanges 3 of thewalls of the stove.

12 represents the refractory material filled in between the walls of thestove and the body 4 so that the inlet of air from below the burner mustbe entirely through the combustion chamber, although means may beprovided for admitting air above the body 4.

13 represents the overflow pipe, which as shown, extends up above thetop of the refractory material 5, but terminates below the lower seriesof air inlets 8. This overflow pipe is connected with any suitableoutlet, such as a sewer or tank for receivmg any overflow of oil.

The oil pipe 6 is connected withasuitable source of supply, the oilbeing supplied to the chamber 9 under just sufficient head to cause itto flow u into the chamber 9, although the oil. supp y, in order toinsure such pressure, may be located at sufficient height above theburner to insure suflicient gravity pressure for this purpose, and theoil supply tank may be located at any distance subservient to safety andconvenience.

In order to insure the automatic regulation of the supply of oil to thechamber 9 and to prevent the supply of any excess thereto, and at thesame time to obviate the necessity of constant attendance u on theburner, I interpose in the oil pipe 6 etween the source of supply andthe chamber 9, an automatic cut-off mechanism. This mechanism consistsof a chamber 14 formed in a suitable reservoir and to which the portionof the pipe 6 leading to the chamber 9 is connected at about its center.At the top of the chamber 14 and forming a closure therefor, is a body15 provided with an oil inlet way 16 and a valve way 17. 18 represents aball or float adapted to operate in the.

chamber 14, and rovided on its periphery with a tapering va ve 19adapted to operate in the way 17 The body 15 is projected upward above.the way 16 and the way 17 extended up through this projection. Aregulating hand wheel 20 operates in this extension through a packinggland and by operating this regulating device 20, the limit of upwardmovement of the valve 19 may be con trolled so that the valve 19, ifdesired, may be prohibited from, at any time, entirely shutting ofl' theflow of oil to the chamber 9. With the provision of this automaticregulation of the supply of oil, it will be seen that whenever thesupply of oil in the chamber 14 is suflEicient to cause the ball 18 torise and project the valve 19 into the duct 17, that the supply of oilentering the chamber 14 will be thereby cut down or entirely out ofl,and that as the supply of oil in the chamber 14 is reduced, the ball 18drops and permits the inflow of a further supply of oil. Another resultwhich is accomp ished by this automatic operating valve 19 is that theduct 17 is mechanically c eaned by the operation of the valve 19 so thatthe duct 17 will at no time become clogged.

About the body 4 below the angle plate 1.0, I have provided an airchamber 21 This air chamber is formed by a metallic wall eithercylindrical or square in form, and supported from the angle lates 10 asshown. This chamber is close except, through a series of ducts 22 inwhich I mount puppet valves 23.

If the burner is to be operated in connection with a forced draft,as forinstance, from a blower connected with the pipe 24, the pressure of airin the chamber21 will hold the valve 23 closed, preventing the egress ofair. If, however, a low pressure were desired, and the blower werestopped, the pu pet valves 23 would open from the atmosp eric pressurewithout and would permit suflicient air to enter the chamber 21 for theproper combustion within the chamber 9.

In order to prevent the ball 18 from dropping down into the chamber 14 asuilicient distance to allow the valve 19 to entirely escape from theway 17 so that the valve 19 could turn away from such way and not beinposition to operate therein upon the rise of the ball, a stop 25 isprovided which limits the downward movement of the ball. This stop 25 isreferably in the form of a rod passing horlzontally through the chamber14. 26 represents a valve which may be closed when the burner is not inoperation to positively shut ofl the flow of oil to the burner.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slightly modified form of my burner. Thismodification consists in the provision of means for introducing steam tothe atomizing oil in the chamber 9. When such apparatus is used, the oilsupply pipe 6 is preferably introduced into the chamber 9 at one side ofthe center of the bottom thereof and the central opening utilized forthe water pipe 27, which, as shown, extends up into the fire-pot orchamber 28 above the chamber 9. To the lower end of this ipe 27 isconnected a water supply pipe 29 t rough a reducing plug 30 into which asmall water supply pipe 31 is positioned. This water supply ipe 31 isloosely mounted in a duct of the re ucing plug 30 and extends up throughthe interior of the pipe.27 and through the plate 32 and referably has ahooked end 33, the central opening of the plate 32 being provided withan elongated opening 34 through which the pipe 31 extends and so thatwhen the hook 33 of the pipe 31 is turned in proper position, the plate32 and parts attac ed thereto, may be removed, as hereinafter set forth.Preferably, the pipe 27 is made in two pieces connected together in ascrew-plug 35, secured in place in the central opening of the bottom ofthe 4. Extending downwardly from the perip or (pipe 36Iform1ng a steamsupp openin into the chamber 9 just above the first ser es of air inletholes 8. 38 represents a short cylinder screwed on the outside 'of thecylinder 36 and extending above the plate 32 and having a screw cap 39forming a steam generating chamber 40above the plate 32. '41' representsshort tubes or pipes extending; up'from the steam dischar e or outletducts 42 into the chamber '40 a ove the water level therein. These pi es41' communicate throu h the steam disc arge ducts 42 in the charm er 37of the pipe 36. The large opening 34 through the plate 32 forms anoverflow outlet into the overflow ipe 27 which is connected at its lowerend t rough the T 43 with the water overflow pi e 44, leading to thesewer or other outlet. n the pipe 27 I supply perforations 45 which aremclined downwardly and inwardly. These perforations 45 permit air toenter the pipe 27.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the burner of big. 1 is modified to show, instead of acylindrical chamber 9 a rectilinear chamber 46, which is preferably usedin large sized burners.

The bottom of the casing 47 is provided with refractory material, 5, theup er surface of which is concave and provide with a series of channels48 leading into a duct or opening 7 above the end of the oil supply pipe6. The casing 47 is provided with a series of air inlet holes 8similarly arranged and corresponding to the inlet holes 8 of Figs. 1 and3. The operation is as follows: Where the burner is constructed withoutthe water and steam apparatus of Fig. 3, the valve 26 is opened to allowoil from the chamber 14 to flow through the pipe 6 and up onto therefractory material 5 in the chamber 9, the regulation of the valve 19and ball 18 being such that the supply of oil will be automaticallysufficient to maintain just a small quantity of oil on the surface ofthe refractory material. The initial ignition of the heavy crude oil maybe accomplished in the chamber 9 in the.

usual manner, as for instance, by waste supplied on top of the oil andthe burning of such Waste heats the surface of the oil so that vaorarises therefrom and this vapor being lgnited by the burning waste theoil entering the chamber 9 vaporizes and the vapor ignites and as thewall 4 and therefractory material 5 becomes heated, the vaporization isincreased. Air flows into the chamber 9 from the chamber 21, and if thechamber 21 is connected with an air compressor, the forced draft of theair through the air inlets 8 creates a tremendous commotion of therising vapor and thoroughly insures the comlete combustion thereof. Thisair rushing 1nto the inlets 8 and the heat vapors arising to meet thesame, tend to create a vacuum between the oil and the air, which sucksthe oil up, atomizing it and forcibly com mingling the atomizing oil orvapor with the air. Unless the burner is burned with "a ver low draft,there will be no fire on the oil. 7 be blue flame burns at the openingof the inlet ports 8 in the combustion cham ber. The drawing up of thevaporizing oil in the air currents, assing in the chamber 9 and throughthe inlets 8, prevents carbonization in the bottom of the chamber 9,either on the sides of the chamber or on the refractory material 5, andan intense heat is thus generated without the production of smoke, thecombustion being complete and perfect. With some oils, however, ofexceedingly heavy gravity and containing a large ercentage of asphaltumand mineral, in or er to effect perfect combustion, it is desirable tointroduce steam to the burning and atomizing vapor. For such purpose Iutilize a burner of the construction shown in Fig. 3, the water beingconverted into steam in the chamber 40 and being delivered through thechamber 37 down into the rising atomizing vapor as it leaves the body ofoil and passes out across the plane of the inlet ports 8.

Any excess of water in the chamber 40 is drained off through theoverflow pipe 27 into the ipe 44, thus preventing water from b ingrought in contact with any portion of the highly heated wall 4 of thecombustion chamber, and avoiding any pulling therein.

Great difiiculty has been found in burning the California crude oils,owing to the presence therein of a substance, known among 011 men as BS.Th s substance has so far been found to be impossible to chemicallyclassify or distinguish, but it seems to be a liquid saltpeter or aliquid silica and is explosive and highly inflammable. It is exceedinglyheavy, being much heavier than any oil and when precipitated into waterwill sink a considerable distance therein. It

is of a consistency. and of a nature like ex ceedingly thick and heavysyrup or molasses,

has been found to accumulate in the valve ways and prevent theregulation of the flow of oil there-through. When properly furnished tothe burner with water and in con-.

nection with the other oil, it forms a very valuable heating agent. Inorder to secure an automatic valve which will automatically regulatethesupply of oil to the burner and at the same time automatically and inthe burning of such oils, this substance clean the valve seat or inlet,I have )rovided to the burner. By this means the difficulty in theregulation of the feed of oil to the burner, in practice, has been foundto be successfully overcome.

.Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hydrocarbon burner having a combustion chamber, the Wall of saidchamber being provided with a series of air inlets, means for supplyingoil to the bottom of said chamber below said air inlets, an automaticvalve in connection with said oil supplyin means for controlling thesupply of oil to said chamber, means forming a closed chamber about thesidesand bottom of said combustion chamber, inlets in the said lastnamed chamber and valves operated by atmospheric pressure forcontrolling the admission of air through said inlets.

2. A hydrocarbon burner having an opentopped combustion chamber providedwith air inlets at its sides, means for supplying oil to the bottom ofsaid combustion chamber below said air inlets, a water supply pipeextending up through said combustion chamber above the top thereof,means forming a steam generating chamber into which said Water .pipecommunicates, a cylindrical body h aving its upper end in communicationwith said steam chamber and extending down about said Water pi e andopening into said combustion cham er near the bottom thereof.

3. A hydrocarbon burner having an open topped combustion chamberprovided with air inlets, means for supplying oil to the bottom'of saidcombustion chamber below said inlets, means providing a closed chamberabout said combustion chamber, means for supplying air under pressure tosaid last named chamber, means providing a steam chamber above saidcombustion chamber, means for supplying water to said steam chamber andmeans for communicating the steam from said steam chamber down to anddischarging the same into said combustion chamber near the bottomthereof.

4. A hydrocarbon burner having an open through said combustion c amber,means forming a steam generating chamber into which said water pipecommunicates, an

overflow pipe from said steam chamber and means for communicating thesteam generat ing in said steam chamber down into said combustionchamber to discharge the same near the bottom thereof.

5. A hydrocarbon burner having an open topped combustion chamber, havinga series of air inlets in its wall, means for supplying oil to saidcombustion chamber below said air inlets, a pipe extending up throughsaid combustion chamber-and supportin a plate forming the'bottom of thesteam c amber, meansforming the sides and top of said steam chamber, awater pipe extending up through said first named ipe through said plateand into said steam c amber,.an overflow outlet being left through saidplate around said water pipe, a concentric steam supply pipe about saidfirst named pipes and extending from said plate down to near the bottomof said combustion chamber, an opening thereinto, the upper end of saidconcentric pipe being connected with said plate and means for supplyingsteam fromthe top of said steam c amber into the chamber of saidconcentric pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los AngelesCalifornia this 17th day of November 1904. i

' LEEGORA A. BLUBAUGH.

In presence of FREDERICK S. LYON, F. M. TOWNSEND.

